• Firefighters get ready for annual Burj Khalifa evacuation drill on Monday. Photos: Dubai Civil Defence
    Firefighters get ready for annual Burj Khalifa evacuation drill on Monday. Photos: Dubai Civil Defence
  • Dubai Civil Defence staff from Zabeel Centre discuss the evacuation plan.
    Dubai Civil Defence staff from Zabeel Centre discuss the evacuation plan.
  • The drill is to make sure that the proper procedures are in place should an emergency arise.
    The drill is to make sure that the proper procedures are in place should an emergency arise.
  • Firefighting vehicles at Burj Khalifa during the drill.
    Firefighting vehicles at Burj Khalifa during the drill.
  • Staff, guests and residents of Burj Khalifa took part in the drill.
    Staff, guests and residents of Burj Khalifa took part in the drill.

Mock fire on Burj Khalifa's 112th floor put out in 10 minutes


  • English
  • Arabic

A fire drill at the world's tallest building involved crews putting a mock blaze on the 112th floor.

Dubai Civil Defence, residents and building staff took part in an annual exercise at Burj Khalifa on Monday.

The full building evacuation prepares residents and visitors for a fire caused by shooting fireworks on New Year's Eve.

The drill began at 10am when a fire alarm sounded and a call was made to the civil defence operations room.

Fire crews from the nearby Zaabeel fire station were at the scene in four minutes and raced up to the 112th floor. The site commander said the entire exercise was carried out within 10 minutes.

“The drill is a part of the strategic plan of Dubai Civil Defence to ensure readiness and preparedness to tackle incidents and test fire alarms and fire extinguishing smart systems,” said Brig Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, assistant director general of the fire service.

Such drills can be a life-saving exercise. Two weeks ago, Dubai Civil Defence extinguished a fire that broke out at a tower on Sheikh Zayed Road at night.

The emergency services were called out to deal with the blaze at Al Ghadeer Tower in the Trade Centre area. Residents reported seeing flames at about 9.30pm.

In mid-October, firefighters tackled a blaze at a residential tower in Dubai Marina. The incident at Marina Diamond 2 in the Sayorah Street area was reported shortly before 4am.

Earlier the same month, a fire broke out at a residential building in Satwa on a Sunday morning. The authorities received a report of the fire at 11.41am and firefighters rushed to the scene.

Best of the Burj Khalifa: in pictures

  • Fireworks are shot from Burj Khalifa during its opening ceremony on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
    Fireworks are shot from Burj Khalifa during its opening ceremony on January 4, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Tom Cruise climbs Burj Khalifa in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
    Tom Cruise climbs Burj Khalifa in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’. Photo: Paramount Pictures
  • Downtown Dubai as taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. Photo: European Space Agency
    Downtown Dubai as taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. Photo: European Space Agency
  • A web of lightning forms over Burj Khalifa on January 14, 2009. Paulo Vecina / The National
    A web of lightning forms over Burj Khalifa on January 14, 2009. Paulo Vecina / The National
  • A shot of Burj Khalifa from the City Walk shopping district on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    A shot of Burj Khalifa from the City Walk shopping district on April 2, 2016. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • The Moon, in its first quarter phase, starts to set on August 16, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
    The Moon, in its first quarter phase, starts to set on August 16, 2010. Jeff Topping / The National
  • A misty morning in Dubai. Getty
    A misty morning in Dubai. Getty
  • Window cleaners lower themselves from the 111th floor to the 73rd. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Window cleaners lower themselves from the 111th floor to the 73rd. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has held the record as the world’s tallest building. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Since its completion, Burj Khalifa has held the record as the world’s tallest building. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Rawda Al Abrar Mosque in the foreground at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Rawda Al Abrar Mosque in the foreground at sunset. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars on February 9. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Burj Khalifa lights up to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars on February 9. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The skyscraper is barely visible on a rare overcast day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The skyscraper is barely visible on a rare overcast day. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Burj Khalifa as seen across the creek, from the InterContinental hotel in Dubai Festival City in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National
    Burj Khalifa as seen across the creek, from the InterContinental hotel in Dubai Festival City in 2011. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A view of the tower from Downtown Dubai in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
    A view of the tower from Downtown Dubai in 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Lasers light up the sky in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National
    Lasers light up the sky in Dubai. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
    Fireworks are released from the building’s surface to mark the new year. EPA
Updated: December 21, 2021, 5:27 AM